I've read some of the previous posts looking for info on a short throw shifter for the F150. I didn't see anything. Has anyone heard anything new? Seen anything else to improve shifting?
Thanks,

Tom

 

I emailed Hurst about a short throw shifter a few months ago. Here was their response: "We might have one in the works, but I do not know for sure. Right now, we
only offer one for the 88-96 F150 5.0's."
Probably wouldn't hurt to email them again to see if any progress was made.

------------------
1999 F-150 XLT 4x2
Black Reg Cab Flareside
4.6L V8 5spd 3.55 non LS
Gibson Super Truck
Mobil 1
Stull billet grille
20" Boyd Coddington Nemesis'
Goodyear GTII 275/45/20


Future Mods:
K&N FIPK
JBA headers
Superchip
3/5 drop

 

Thanks 99flairside.
I went and checked for myself at www.enjoytheride.com. This is what they had to say:

We spoke to a friend of ours at Hurst (Mr. Gasket Performance Group,10601
Memphis Ave., #12, Cleveland OH, 44144,
216-688-8300, www.mrgasket.com) customer service, and he told us that they
get about 12 requests a week for the shifter you are looking for. These
requests are finding their way to the product planning people at Hurst, but
as of this date, there is still no word as to when a shifter will hit the
street. Judging from our conversation with our man at Hurst, he's been
getting inquiries and requests for this shifter for some time, so hopefully
they won't keep you waiting too much longer.

I don't know how many of the folks here would be interested in a short throw shifter. I would guess if they were getting more than twelve inquieries a week mabey they would get on the ball. I would like to try my truck out in the quarter mile, I wouldn't do all that great with the stock shifter though.
I guess I (we) will have to wait.

Tom

 

That response you got sounds very optimistic! Hopefully they will come out with one sometime this year! I'm going to email them again about it to generate more interest. We should put out a call to all the 4.2 and 4.6 5spd owners to email Hurst to show our support for that shifter.

 

im definately game for something like that. This manual trannie is a tough one, but i have always thought a better gripping clutch (dont know of anyone who makes one) and a shorter shifter would make it unbeatable (for a truck that is)

------------------
The TRUCK:
1999 Black F150 XLT Sport 4x4 Flareside, 4.6 Triton V-8, Manual Transmission, Captains Chairs, Power Everything.

Appearance Changes:
Button-down Tonneau Cover, Webasto Sunroof, Spray-on Bed-liner, Xenon Fog and Headlights, Blackwidow Car Alarm, Window Tint, Wet Okole Seats (ALL).

Stereo:
2 10" Kicker CompVR's on Fosgate 360a2, Kicker Components Front & Fosgate 5x7 Rear on Fosgate 200a4, Blaupunkt Muchen Deck.

Performance:
265/70 R17 Yokohama Geolandar A/T+, Borla Split-Rear Cat-Back Exhaust, K&N FIPK, Rancho RS9000s, Helwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar.

 

I must admit I am surprised there aren't more people out there with the 5-speed. I guess Ford makes a real good automatic. I prefer the feel of a manual myself.
From what I've seen the short throw shifter would be a reletively inexpensive mod. The ones I saw were around $200. I thought it would have been more popular.
I will be checking in every now and then to see what Hurst has come up with. I really want this shifter for my truck. When I find out something new I will post it here.
Tom

 

I've sent the email as I am interested in this too. Thought about it today while on the hwy in 5th. heh.

------------------
Bambino Worldwide
Owners Gallery Truck #179
1999 reg cab/short box/ORP/Silver on Dk Graphite - 3.55; 4.6l 5sp; Factory Tonneau; Kicker amp'd sub tubes; Rockford Fosgate components up front; Custom Exhaust; Mobil 1 5w30/Motorcraft FL820s; Amsoil Series 2k in the driveline.

 

I sent an e-mail too. That would be cool to have a nice looking shift in my truck plus the better shifting performance

 

Well about a month has past, and I got impatient. I e-mailed www.mrgasket.com again to see if there were any new developments. Well not much has happened. I don't know if I will be able to have the shifter in the truck by the end of the summer like I was hoping. The respnse was a bit more informative this time. This is what they had to say:
Thank you for inquiry regarding a Hurst shifter for your 1998 Ford F-150
pick up truck. We are currently in development of a shifter for the 1988-96
Ford F-150 series and are about 60% complete to date. Unfortunately the
project has been temporarily delayed due to other priorities and some
unforeseen circumstances. We have done a few fit ups on some of the early
1990 pick ups, but have not verified anything past 1996. Trying to find
late model F-150's with 5-speed manual transmissions has been somewhat
difficult. Sometimes the manufacturer will change the interior creating a
situation where our Hurst shifter still fits the transmission, but there is
an interference with the shifter stick at the seat or dash board when
shifting gears. When Ford introduced the new design F-150 (I believe in
1998), we really don't know if that transmission is the same as the one
used in the 1988-96 pick ups. I'm not sure where you live, but if you were
located somewhere in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area, you would be more
than welcome to bring your truck over to have us check it out. If you have,
or possibly know of an internet site that we might be able to look for more
information on the 1998-01 pick-ups, please let us know. If you would like
to discuss this any further or need additional information, please contact
me direct.

Sincerely,
Jim Puskas
Hurst Product Manager
216-688-8300 ext. 264
jim.puskas@dana.com
I checked with Jim to make sure it was alight with him to post this here.
I am not near Ohio. If anyone who is interester in a short throw shifter is in a position to help out with some information, that would be great for all of us. It might be cool to be part of the process too.
Thats what I've got for now.
Tom


------------------



'98 F150 XLT,short bed, STX appearance group, 4.6, 5-speed.
Current mods: K&N air filter, cat back exhaust (Flowmaster 40 w/dual rear side exit), Superchip.
Future mods: short throw shifter, K&N FIPK, lowered suspension, other things seen here!

 

what is this short throw shifter, and what exactly is it and what does it do. im new to all this stuff. i have a 4.6 manual. from the sound of it, i would be interested in it too

------------------
F-150 2000 Reg. Cab
4.6 manual
K&N Air Filter

Future mods:
lift spindles
flip chip
exhaust

 

A short throw shifter does exactly that, shortens the throw (distance) between shifts for quicker shifting. Quicker shifts = you go faster

------------------
1999 F-150 XLT 4x2
Black Reg Cab Flareside
4.6L V8 5spd 3.55 non LS
Gibson Super Truck
Mobil 1
Stull billet grille
20" Boyd Coddington Nemesis'
Goodyear GTII 275/45/20


Future Mods:
3/4 drop (soon!)
K&N FIPK
JBA headers
Superchip
Snuglid
Kenne Bell supercharger

 

Sorry folks. I just can't let this thread die.
I have been in contact with someone at Mr. Gasket again. Nothing new going on yet, but I thought I'd show you what they had to say. It may not be this year, but I think we may see a shifter for our trucks in the future.
This is the response to me:
We have not forgotten about developing a Hurst shifter for the 97-later
Ford F-150's. It is on our list of "things to do" and as time permits, we
will definitely get into it. We have undergone a LOT of changes here at Mr.
Gasket over the last 3-months, and are to the point where the dust is
starting to settle. Hopefully we will be "on track" in the near future.
Thanks for your patience!
Well that's it for now. Hope those of you interested in the shifter get a chance to read this before it gets buried.
Tom

 

i was interested in their short-throw shifter for the 80-96 F-150's, but i emailed them and they told me that their shifters do not work with trucks that have a body lift due to the shape of their handle (interference with the floor pan). just something to consider for you guys that are thinking about getting one if and when they release one for 97+ trucks.

 

You might want to try B&M also. I have the ripper shifter in the stang and it is LIGHT years better than the Hurst one for the T5. At least get some more competition in the arena for selection and price cutting.

http://www.bmracing.com/noflash/index.html

 

I just got off the phone with tech support at B&M. They said there is no plans for a shifter for the full size trucks. This really sucks because the '89-95'(?) T-Bird SC uses the same transmission. They have a shifter for the T-Bird.
Any one got an e-mail address for some one in r&d at B&M?
I really don't care who makes it, I just want one!
Thanks Matt90GT.
Tom

 

sorry, no contacts, but if you want other businesses to talk to about shifters, here is a short list that makes them for the stangs:

-Steeda

-Pro5.0 908-241-4336

-Hurst, aka Mr Gasket

-B&M

-MAC -- http://www.macperformance.com

Now did you see on the Hurst site the new shifters for Rangers and F150s (up to 96)?

http://www.mrgasket.com/hurstnew.htm

Now you have me thinking. You sure it is the same tranny as the SCs? If so, take the base of the shifter from there, add the F150 stick from the 88-96 unit and you may have a shifter. What you think?

 

Thanks again, Matt90GT.
I will try to see what the companies on the list offer, or may offer for the F150's.
I did see that Hurst has a shifter for the Ranger. I guess it's not close enough to the F150.
When I went on the B&M site they had the shifter for the T-Bird. The transmission numbers were the same as the ones for the F150. Sorry I can't remember them off the top of my head.
I would try to adapt a shifter. The only problem is what if it doesn't work. What if it causes damage. I would feel better if I heard from some one with some technical knowlage, that it would work without any problems.
I would like to be able to do more with my truck. I'm not knowlageable enough to do too much tinkering. My current income does not allow for costly screw ups. I would like to have a Mustang (or something kinda fast), like many here, so I can do some tinkering. That way if (when) I screw something up, I would still have the truck to get me around.
Thanks to thoes keeping this thread alive. Someday the dream of a short throw shifter for the F150 may be reality!
Tom

 

I hear you. Someone the top of the tranny is going to be different from the birds to the trucks, otherwise there would be a shifter out.

Anyways, that is why you need 2 rigs! F150 and a mustang! hehe, got both at home.

 

I know it's been a while. I sent an e-mail to Hurst to see if there was anything new. Well not much has happened. I wish I could go out to Ohio so they could have a truck to do some of thier work with. Its' just too far to go, without being paid.

I figured I would bring this thread back incase there was anyone who didn't see it before, that might be in a position to help them out over there at Hurst.

This is what they had to say:

Hi Tom,
Thanks for the note. We definitely have plans on making a shifter for your
application. If you could find us a vehicle in the greater Cleveland, Ohio
area by posting something on the f150online forum, you are more than welcome
to do so. You can have them contact me via e-mail or the telephone number
listed below. Thanks again for your interest. By the way, how are the
traction bars working?

Regards,
Jim Puskas
Hurst Product Manager
216-688-8300 ext.264
jim.puskas@mrgasket.com

They sent me a set of Lakewood traction bars to try out on my truck. They work quite well. They aren't fancy or anything, but they reduce spring warp and tire spin.

Well thats it for now.

Tom

 

I had to do a search to dig up this thread. There are quite a few threads about a short throw shifter.

I was checking out the site that one of this sites vendors just opened and saw mention of a Hurst shifter for our trucks. I called and was told they have just released the shifter. I ordered one!

It's been a long time coming but it appears that the wait is over!

I ordered mine at Performance Products. 540-862-9515. I thought the price was very reasonable, though I've been wanting a shifter so bad for a while now, that price is not the deciding factor.

I know that a short throw shifter isn't going to affect the operation of the syncros. The grind may still occure. I think a third less travel of the shifter will put the motion of my clutch foot more in sync with the motion of the shift thus reducing the chance of grinding. I think it will help thoes rapid take offs.

It should be in soon. I'll let you folks know the how and what when I get it.